Tribal compacts battle, cancer drug problems, and prison journalism pushback

VNN Weekly Digest June 19-25

Here’s a look at the week’s top stories:

Governor’s battle over tribal compacts intensifies ahead of special session on Monday

(OKLAHOMA) After vetoing two tribal compact bills earlier this year, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt took time on Friday to implore the Senate not to override them. Senate Bill 26X would extend the tobacco products excise tax compact until the end of 2024. House Bill 1005x would allow any tribe with an existing motor vehicle licensing or registration agreement with the state to extend the agreement until the end of next year. 

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Drugmakers Are Abandoning Cheap Generics, and Now US Cancer Patients Can’t Get Meds

(NATIONAL) On Nov. 22, three FDA inspectors arrived at the sprawling Intas Pharmaceuticals plant south of Ahmedabad, India, and found hundreds of trash bags full of shredded documents tossed into a garbage truck. Over the next 10 days, the inspectors assessed what looked like a systematic effort to conceal quality problems.

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The risks and regulations around prison journalism

(NATIONAL) Prison Journalism is becoming more popular with dozens of prison newspapers existing across the country. VNN previously reported on efforts by the Prison Journalism Project to empower journalists writing from behind bars. 

Read the full story here.

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WEATHER ACROSS AMERICA

(NATIONAL) A Slight Risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the Mid-Atlantic, an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Ohio/Tennessee/Lower Mississippi Valleys, Excessive Heat Watch/Warnings and Heat Advisories over the South, and Air Quality alerts over parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley. 

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